Speaking on the SPG Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha, Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the Special Group Protection (SPG) security is meant for the head of the state only.
“Security cannot be made a status symbol. Why demands only SPG? SPG cover is meant for only the ‘head of the state’, we cannot be giving it to everyone. We don’t oppose one family, we are against dynasty politics.”
Shah was discussing the recent security breach at Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s house. On the other hand, the Special Protection Group (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was passed by Upper House. Congress had staged walkout from the House. The Lok Sabha had already given its nod to the bill.
Shah further said, “It’s not true that we have brought the SPG Bill by keeping only the Gandhi family in mind. Security from Gandhis was withdrawn after the threat assessment analysis even before bringing this bill.”
“If the time comes, even (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi-ji won’t be entitled to SPG after five years. He is entitled only to five years of SPG after his term ends,” said Amit Shah, defending the move to replace the Gandhis’ elite SPG detail with Z-plus security.
“This is the 5th amendment in the SPG Act. This amendment is not brought in by keeping Gandhis in mind, but, one thing that I can say for sure is that the previous 4 amendments were done by keeping only one family in mind,” Shah added.
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“The incident happened on November 25. Priyanka Gandhi got information that Rahul Gandhi was coming to meet her in black SUV, but another black SUV came at the same time which had Meerut Congress leader Sharda Tyagi in it,” he said.
A high-level inquiry had nevertheless been ordered and three personnel had been suspended after the incident, he said in Rajya Sabha, replying to a debate on changes to the SPG.
“The car and timing were the same, such was the coincidence. That’s why the car with Sharda Tyagi went in without security check. Then also, we have ordered high-level probe and suspended three officers responsible for the breach,” he said.